ric sustain question(s)

General Rickenbacker discussion

Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4

User avatar
blue330
Professional Player
Posts: 173
Joined: Mon May 21, 2007 3:40 am
Contact:

Re: ric sustain question(s)

Post by blue330 »

I had to figure out how to play Rickenbackers! They forced me to be deliberate and really dig in. Eventually it all added up for me but, yeah, they really aren't all that sustainey. It's not like they have no sustain, but they have distinctive attack and decay characteristics which are unlike other guitars. I have no idea why!
AlohaT
New member
Posts: 11
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2010 2:28 am

Re: ric sustain question(s)

Post by AlohaT »

ken_j wrote:A Rick 650 with its neck-through constrution and hardtail bridge has more sustain than their other models IMO.
I'm with you Ken, you can almost play a 650 acoustically it rings out so well.
User avatar
doctorwho
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 12652
Joined: Tue Jun 11, 2002 3:28 pm

Re: ric sustain question(s)

Post by doctorwho »

jingle_jangle wrote:
doctorwho wrote:
Spike- wrote:Anyone who says "You can't play ___ with a ___" dosen't know what they're talking about.
+1! :)
Hmmm...you can't play bass on a mandolin...
"... You can't roller skate in a buffalo herd ..." - Roger Williams :shock:
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
User avatar
captsandwich
Intermediate Member
Posts: 1312
Joined: Tue Jan 31, 2006 6:13 am

Re: ric sustain question(s)

Post by captsandwich »

jingle_jangle wrote: Hmmm...you can't play bass on a mandolin...
Sure you can, you just need really heavy strings.
Lemme graze into your veldt/ lemme stomple your albino/lemme nibble on your buds/ I'm your Love Rhino
Clint
Intermediate Member
Posts: 727
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2008 2:03 pm

Re: ric sustain question(s)

Post by Clint »

And all the other mandolin players have to capo up.
Jangle, Chime & Twang.
User avatar
jimk
RRF Consultant
Posts: 5355
Joined: Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:27 am
Contact:

Re: ric sustain question(s)

Post by jimk »

doctorwho wrote:
Hmmm...you can't play bass on a mandolin...
"... You can't roller skate in a buffalo herd ..." - Roger Williams :shock:
Ummmm......no, Doc. It's Roger Miller. BTW, you can't pick peaches from a watermelon vine, either.
JimK
User avatar
fabandgear
Member
Posts: 404
Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:30 pm
Contact:

Re: ric sustain question(s)

Post by fabandgear »

Spike- wrote:Anyone who says "You can't play ___ with a ___" dosen't know what they're talking about.
Amen, brother, Amen! I used to use my Gretsch 6120 (Nashville) for surf rock leads. The Surf Police didn't ticket me because I wasn't playing a Jazzmaster or Mosrite Mk I. Same for a Rick. You can make great music with any type of guitar you want as long as it pleases YOU (and if they're paying you, your audience :D :D :D !)
"When I kill, its on direct orders from Her Majesty's government." -007
User avatar
iiipopes
Intermediate Member
Posts: 1479
Joined: Tue May 22, 2007 5:02 pm

Re: ric sustain question(s)

Post by iiipopes »

blue330 wrote:I had to figure out how to play Rickenbackers! They forced me to be deliberate and really dig in. Eventually it all added up for me but, yeah, they really aren't all that sustainey. It's not like they have no sustain, but they have distinctive attack and decay characteristics which are unlike other guitars. I have no idea why!
Try a set of D'addario 11-49 with wound 3rd G string, or one of the TI sets, either 10's or 11's in the flat nickel wrap. I think you'll find that the tension is not that much more from a playing-feel perspective, and with greater mass, it will add to both tone and sustain. I also get better results through my POD 2.0 on the blackface deluxe setting with (7:00 is zero compression) the compression at @ 9 to 10:00 knob position.
User avatar
IHeartRics
Member
Posts: 482
Joined: Sat Apr 12, 2008 12:17 am
Contact:

Re: ric sustain question(s)

Post by IHeartRics »

paologregorio wrote:If you're playing with 7.4K toasters you're not going to get as much sustain either. All of my Ricks have either 12K toasters or overwound 14K toaster p/ups in the bridge positions for better sustain.
Agreed. I do similar with a 12K in the bridge and a Ric HB in the neck position, then blend them to my liking. I also use GHS Boomers 10's and a Rat Distortion. Granted it's still not like my LP, but it takes a backseat to my Rics as its the TONE and the overtones of the Rics I love. From that perspective, there are things I do on a Ric that an LP doesn't do for me.
Expect nothing and you'll never be disappointed (and I mean that in an optimistic way).
http://www.reverbnation.com/thelowlies
http://www.myspace.com/thelowlies
User avatar
weemac
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 2735
Joined: Tue Mar 26, 2002 1:28 am

Re: ric sustain question(s)

Post by weemac »

jingle_jangle wrote:
doctorwho wrote:
Spike- wrote:Anyone who says "You can't play ___ with a ___" dosen't know what they're talking about.
+1! :)
Hmmm...you can't play bass on a mandolin...
What if its a Mandobass?

emac.
Attachments
could not think of witty comment....
could not think of witty comment....
User avatar
jps
RRF Consultant
Posts: 37497
Joined: Wed Feb 12, 2003 6:00 am

Re: ric sustain question(s)

Post by jps »

weemac wrote:What if its a Mandobass?

emac.
That's not a mandobass! :roll: :roll: :roll:

This is a mandobass! :twisted:
User avatar
weemac
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 2735
Joined: Tue Mar 26, 2002 1:28 am

Re: ric sustain question(s)

Post by weemac »

Gulp! Yes it is. :shock:

:mrgreen:

emac.
Post Reply

Return to “Rickenbacker General: by Howard Bishop”